Tag: Books and literature

A Controversial ‘Book Launch’ and Delhi University’s Descent Into Party Propaganda

The name of the book clearly suggests that it is part of a glorification drive for Modi. We need to ask whether it is appropriate to use university resources for this campaign. Apoorvanand The vice-chancellor (VC) of Delhi University, Yogesh Singh, last week exhorted the audience at a program in the conference hall of the university to think about giving… Read More A Controversial ‘Book Launch’ and Delhi University’s Descent Into Party Propaganda

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Bhagat Singh, Kanpur lit fest, and the culture of hasty comment

NB: It could also be called the standardisation of thought; the co-option of history by ideology, and the elevation of outrage to an art form. DS Apoorvanand Historian Aparna Vaidik is under attack on social media. A controversy arose following a discussion on her new book at a lit fest in Kanpur. It was alleged that Vaidik… Read More Bhagat Singh, Kanpur lit fest, and the culture of hasty comment

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In the Shadow of Catastrophe: An Interview

Apocalyptic thought in the aftermath of the world wars George Prochnik and Anson Rabinbach In what way does writing about catastrophe, either predictively or retrospectively, risk kindling a new blaze? Conversely, is it possible to identify aspects of such texts that work against the drive to catastrophe? Conventional wisdom suggests that temporal distance from historical… Read More In the Shadow of Catastrophe: An Interview

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Reading Vasily Grossman’s ‘Stalingrad’ and ‘Life and Fate’

War heightens the kaleidoscope of temporality. That you might say is the premise of Grossman’s entire book. It is an effect of combat and of the proximity of death. There would be other such moments in World War II – Bagration, Normandy, and the Battle for Berlin come to mind. But perhaps never again, indeed… Read More Reading Vasily Grossman’s ‘Stalingrad’ and ‘Life and Fate’

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Welcome to the Age of Technofeudalism: Yanis Varoufakis interviewed by WIRED magazine

NB: The notions of technofeudalism, ‘cloud capital’, ‘cloud proletarians’ and ‘cloud rent’ are insightful. Varoufakis has an active intellect and thoughtful people from all walks of life will gain from taking his ideas seriously. DS The tech giants have overthrown capitalism. That’s the argument of former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who became famous trying… Read More Welcome to the Age of Technofeudalism: Yanis Varoufakis interviewed by WIRED magazine

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